Structural Aspects of Data Modeling Languages
A conceptual data model for an information system specifies the fact structures of interest as well as the constraints and derivation rules that apply to the business domain being modeled. The languages for specifying these models may be graphical or textual, and may be based upon approaches such...
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| Format: | Teaching Resource |
| Language: | English |
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Springer Berlin Heidelberg
2011
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| Online Access: | http://eprints.intimal.edu.my/192/ http://eprints.intimal.edu.my/192/1/18.pdf |
| Summary: | A conceptual data model for an information system specifies the fact
structures of interest as well as the constraints and derivation rules that apply to
the business domain being modeled. The languages for specifying these models
may be graphical or textual, and may be based upon approaches such as Entity
Relationship modeling, class diagramming in the Unified Modeling Language,
fact orientation (e.g. Object-Role Modeling), Semantic Web modeling (e.g. the
Web Ontology Language), or deductive databases (e.g. datalog). Although sharing
many aspects in common, these languages also differ in fundamental ways
which impact not only how, but which, aspects of a business domain may be
specified. This paper provides a logical analysis and critical comparison of how
such modeling languages deal with three main structural aspects: the entity/
value distinction; existential facts; and entity reference schemes. The analysis
has practical implications for modeling within a specific language and for transforming
between languages. |
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